The first of two videos for You Lose is finally here. The clip, recorded in Sussex last summer was directed by Narin Oz and shot by Jamboola Mediaworks. The video was recorded for the album version of the track and a second video shot specially for the piano single edit will be released later this week.

2012 has been a great year for Paul so we thought we’d look back over it and count out ten of the stand out moments that made this year so special.

USA TOUR

March/April saw Paul jet off to the states for a solo tour around America supporting indie/rock band Darling Waste. He played in venues in The Carolinas, Virginia, Washington DC, New York, Pensylvania, Indiana, Chicago (where he was interviewed and performed on Fearless Radio), Michigan and Ohio (where he filmed 2 songs for Fun Coach TV) Paul had an amazing time and looks forward to returning in May 2013 for another tour.

FEATURE IN POV MAGAZINE

Paul was delighted to be interviewed for innovative new digital magazine POV for their identitiy issue. The magazine featured a double page spread of Paul talking image, inspiration and starting out in music. You can read the article here:

http://issuu.com/povmagazine/docs/issue3/143

FRINGE FESTIVAL

May saw Paul return to The Brunswick for his third year in Brighton’s Fringe festival. He took to the stage, which was covered in fake flowers, to perform songs from his debut album The Last Green Bottle to a packed out audience and was joined by the amazing Justin Saltmeris for a couple of surprise duets.The show received great reviews and a fab night was had by all

IRISH TOUR

In June Paul teamed up with fellow musician and good friend Alan Bonner and headed over to the emereld isle where they joined Irish singer songwriter Niamh Parkinson. The three troubadours travelled around Dublin, Cork and Belfast and performed in some fantastic venues including Dublin’s notorious Whelan’s.

INTERVIEW WITH BRIGHTONIAN RECORDS

Whilst Paul was on tour,  he stopped off en-route to answer some questions for  local label Brightonian Records’  Red Deck Chair Interviews sessions. You can read the interview here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/brightoneian-records/red-deck-chair-6-paul-diello/445627262156277   

UK TOUR

In Sept/Oct Paul and his band teamed up once again with Alan Bonner and took their show across the UK at venues in Petersfield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Leicester, London, Southampton, Brighton and Portsmouth. The tour was a lot of fun and a great success and Paul looks forward to returning to the cities for another tour in 2013.

SUPPORTING JAY BRANNAN

Paul was delighted to be asked to open for American singer/songwriter Jay Brannan at Sticky Mike’s in Brighton in October. Fresh off their UK tour, Paul and the band performed to an enthusiastic packed out crowd then kicked back and enjoyed a fantastic set by Jay.

YOU LOSE VIDEO SHOOT

This shoot had originally been intended to be shot in April then got pushed back to August due to bad weather. Finally a sunny day arrived and the shoot took place in the woods at Ditchling Beacon in East Sussex. Directed by Narin Oz and produced by Jamboola Mediaworks, this video accompanies the song beautifully. Paul dreamt up the concept for the video whilst out walking and is really happy with how it came to life. The video will be shared with you all in January to accompany the release of You Lose- the single.

ALBUM REVIEW IN SOUND & MOTION MAGAZINE

Paul’s  debut album The Last Green Bottle has had some great reviews since its release last October but nothing can top the write up it received in Sound and Motion magazine. Paul was overwhelmed by the glowing report and overjoyed that his music is being appreciated in such a way. You can read the review here:

soundandmotionmagazine

CHRISTMAS SHOW AT THE BRUNSWICK

Paul and his full band returned to The Brunswick in Brighton for his annual christmas show featuring guest collaborations with Rose Randles, Catherine Allin, Tigger and Matt Cooke for a festive evening of new and old tunes, covers, carols and cupcakes. It was a sell out show and received a 5/5 review in Latest 7 magazine.

“Thanks so much to everyone for all the support you’ve given me in 2012, it’s been great to meet so many of you on the road this year and I can’t  wait to get back out there and sing to you all again! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful christmas and are gearing up  for a fantastic New Years Eve. I’ll see you all in 2013.
All my love,
P
xxx

To read the article from Sound and Motion magazine click here

Paul Diello
Oct 23 2012
Album Review: Paul Diello And Friends-The Last Green Bottle

This album from Brighton’s Paul Diello from beginning to end creates two worlds, one an atmosphere of comfortable sadness, diving into tears from the mind’s eye of a clearly passionate and talented individual. The other a land of slightly twisted fairy tales, not a scary or intimidating place, but one where perhaps you might see the moon jump over a cow, without questioning it.

Originality in music is rare, and to a certain extent originality within music is essentially an ambiguous concept, however Diello has managed to create a particularly unique sound. The songs themselves vary in influence from folky, guitar led pieces to brooding piano based tracks, all interlaced with quintessential words of love through to sombre intimate reflections on society and relationships.

The album opens with Cold Hands which is built around a haunting sense of heartbreak, the weeping fiddle goes a long way towards complementing the tormented cries of Diello, and continues to do so through most of the other darker sides of Paul’s rainbow of emotional states that light up the remainder of the album.

If we have given the impression that the overall tone of the album is a sad one, that is incorrect, whilst there are introverted moments these are contrasted with a plethora of soulful and beautifully melodic instrumentation, not to mention the uplifting sentiments of tracks such as The Wedding Song and the pure wacky-ness of Frown that cant help but put a smile on your face.

What really laces Diello’s latest effort together however is his use of lyrics; insightful, perhaps sometimes bizarre, but undeniably poetic words shape this project into more than just another album you put on when you’re at home alone, and want your house mates to think you’re being thoughtful and creative. Paul uses his Boy-George-esque tones with his intertwining of the colloquial and the grammatical, the conceptual and the actual, to deliver words that may at some points seem impossible to decipher, but yet see the listener sure that they always mean something. This is not weird metaphorical experimentation for the sake of being ‘interesting’ or ‘different’, there is an underlying honesty through every piece, and it is impossible for the listener not to gain something from it.

The Last Green Bottle is full of flavours from The Cinematic Orchestra, Panic! At The Disco, Mika and everyone else in between, the originality comes in the masterful crafting of the brew. It would be unfair to pigeon hole Diello into folk music, or indeed to typecast his efforts as pop music, this album has been produced not only as a showcase for his song writing and recording ability, but to express and demonstrate his talent in creating a sound scape that encapsulates the listener, and as such leads me to think that The Last Green Bottle is sitting on the wall between Music & Art. The question is if it does accidentally fall, which side will it land in?

“Music they say is a tonic. Well if that’s the case then grab a gin and let’s leave Paul Diello to bring the music. Having already established himself as one of the more prolific extroverted singer/songwriters of the Brighton music circuit, Paul is now embarking on an 11 date tour to spread his wistful melodies, haunting words and homemade cupcakes across the UK. Paul takes a welcome break from his hectic tour schedule to enjoy a cup of something hot and sweet in the infamous Red Deck Chair, to help set the Brightoneian Record straight (too many buns.. sorry puns for one afternoon).

Brightoneian Records – How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before?

Paul Diello –“It depends which night you catch me on. If it’s a solo show I guess you could call it emotionally charged piano balladry or if I’m with the band it’s more of a stomping sound of acoustic melodica! My debut album is a folk pop extravaganza of strings and sadness and my second album that I’m currently workingon is pure pop electronica with a dash of melancholy.”

Brightoneian Records – Why did you call the album “The Last Green Bottle”?

Paul Diello – “When I started writing the record I was part of a four piece band, then when I started recording it we were a two piece, by the time it was in production, I was a solo artist so it’s kind of a reference to being the last man standing! Plus it’s a lyric from ‘You Lose’ (a track from the album)”

Brightoneian Records – Tell us about your favourite song on the album.

Paul Diello – “I go back and fourth a lot. Like most debut albums, the songs have been written a long time ago at various different points of my life leading up tothe recording. I’ve always had a real soft spot for You Lose, it has really evolvedover the years and when we play it live now it’s almost unrecognisable to when itwas first written. I’ve recently recorded different versions of it for the singleand had it remixed which has made me look at it from a different angle and kind offall in love with it all over again! ”

Brightoneian Records – What artists inspire you and why?

Paul Diello – “There are so many. Tori Amos was a massive inspiration for me when I was a teenager, I’d always had a thing for the piano but hearing the way she played for the first time was a defining moment for me. I’ve always been really inspired by PJ Harvey, the way she creates characters and uses her voice in so many different ways and is constantly evolving. Most of my main influences are female musicians, I don’t think I had a male singer in my record collection until I was on my 20’s, I still don’t have that many! I’m just more drawn to what the woman have to say!”

Brightoneian Records – What inspires your songwriting?

Paul Diello –“Like a lot of artists, the creative juices flow more freely in times of trial. The break down of a relationship always helps put pen to paper, and not necessarily romantic relationships. I write about my friends, their struggles and woes. I write about fictional characters, I write about dreams or nightmares that I’ve had, just whatever comes into my head really.”

Brightoneian Records – How are you enjoying life on tour?

Paul Diello – “If I could do it everyday of my life I would, I absolutely love life on the road. Waking up in a different city every morning with a bunch of friends, a steaming hangover and memories of a great show to a new audience the night before is just what it’s all about for me”

Brightoneian Records – What brought you to Brighton originally?

Paul Diello –”I’ve always loved Brighton, when I used to come as a kid with myparents and then with my friends as a teenager I always stepped off that train at Brighton station and felt like I’d come home. I left home at 18 and went to Sydneyfor a year and I knew that when I returned I’d be heading straight for Brighton.”

Brightoneian Records – How do you find managing yourself and given the opportunity would you take on a manager?

Paul Diello –“I don’t love managing myself, there’s only so much I can do on my own so am definitely keen for management, once I’ve finished my second album that is something I will be looking into more. I am signed to a small label who help me as much as they can for which I’m very fortunate.”

Brightoneian Records – If you could break into any celebrity’s hotel room, who would it be and why?

Paul Diello – “Well I’ve always been a massive Madonna fan so a few years ago I’d have said her but now I reckon I’d only find boring things like macrobiotic mung beans and a yoga mat so for now I’ll say I’ll break in to Gael Garcia Bernal’s suite and hope to catch a glimpse of him stepping out of the shower!”

Brightoneian Records – So you went out to the US on tour – tell us a funny story from your travels.

Paul Diello – “There’s quite a few ridiculous stories from that tour but I’ll tell you about the drunk girl that gave me an over excited hug after a show in North Carolina and punched me straight in the throat as she went to put her arm round me. I heard it crunch and I felt like I was choking, it wasn’t that far into the tour, I had another 4 weeks to go and I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to sing and that I’d have to fly home, luckily it was fine after a couple of days, the girl didn’t even notice she’d done it!”

Brightoneian Records – X Factor – good thing or bad thing?

Paul Diello –“Well I think it’s ultimately a pile of s***but I shamefully admit to watching it from time to time. I think it’s a shame the charts aren’t really a thing to be excited about any more and that everyone in the top 20 is a Simon Cowell puppet. When I was growing up I’d sit with my friends by the radio on a Sunday night desperate to hear who was number one and then watching whoever it was perform the song on Top Of The Pops the following Thursday. All that seems to have gone now and been replaced by ‘talent’ shows that throw idiots like Jedward in to the limelight for young kids to look up to. But on the flip side, I am up for kids enjoying and being exposed to music, even if it is crap!”

Brightoneian Records – What has been the highlight of your music career so far?

Paul Diello – “Winning best solo artist and performing at Brighton Music Awards 2010 was up there, I got a pat on the back from Roger Daltrey and Jimmy Page asked me to sign a copy of my CD, that doesn’t happen every day!”

Brightoneian Records – What’s your favourite place in Brighton and why?

Paul Diello – “I do really love the beach, I don’t go there a lot but I love knowing it’s there. When touring the UK I really notice when the sea isn’t nearby, the air is different. Brighton beach just has an amazing vibe, when friends from out of town come to stay, they always want to go to the beach and when we get there I look around and feel really proud to be a Brightonian. I also love The George on Trafalgar St!”

Brightoneian Records – What is the most annoying thing in the world?

Paul Diello – “People’s complete lack of respect for each other really annoys me,people being mean for no reason, particularly kids. It was bad enough when I wasgrowing up but now with the Internet people can hide behind their screens andmindlessly bully till their hearts content. I know it sounds all hippy s*** butwe’re all in the same boat, we should be offering each other a hand, not a middlefinger!”

Brightoneian Records – If you could live in another country for a year – where would it be and why?

Paul Diello – “Well I spent a year in Sydney which was amazing so I could happily go back there but if I had to pick somewhere new I’d probably say America. I love New York so much and could quite happily spend a year there.”

Brightoneian Records – What’s next on the horizon for Paul Diello?

Paul Diello – “Next on the list is the release of my single You Lose. I’m currently in the studio making album 2 which is a huge change in sound from my first album, we’re having a lot of fun in the process. I’ll be heading back to the states for another US tour in the new year for the last hit of promotion for Last Green Bottle then will start all the promo for the second album. Lots of exciting stuff ahead!”

Paul Diello has now commenced his Green Bottle UK tour and you can catch him around the country throughout September and October. Be sure to check out the video for Paul’ssingle “You Lose” which will soon be on Youtube or on his official website Pauldiello.com.”

pauljacksonphotography.co.uk

Hi all,
I hope you are all well and happy. I’m desperately excited as I throw some ridiculous outfits in a suitcase and prepare for my journey ahead. The UK leg of Green Bottle Tour 2012 kicks off tomorrow in Manchester and I can’t wait. This time it’ll just be me, the keyboard, my backing singer Embob and her new toy (a glockenspiel named Glok Wan) We’ve got some brand new songs we’ll be debuting for you plus some old faves. We’re being joined on the road by balladeer Alan Bonner. Alan and I are no strangers to touring together as we headed out to Berlin in May and performed together at the lovely Malena Bar. This was a great experience, the Germans were a fab audience and I’m definitely looking forward to going back and exploring Deutschland some more! Then in July we both headed to Ireland and hooked up with the amazing Niamh Parkinson and embarked on a tour of the emerald isle. We covered Cork, Belfast and Dublin and played in some fantastic venues including Dublin’s prestigious Whelan’s. Whilst in Dublin I managed to find time to go and see Madonna at the Aviva Stadium, she was absolutely amazing. I’ve seen her many times before but always had shit seats but this time I was in the golden circle and could almost touch her, a night to remember for sure. But Ireland being Ireland meant it was pouring with rain and my €3 poncho (purchased outside the stadium) seemed to be made of paper and by the end of the show I had a stinking cold and had to play the first half of the tour doped up on Beechams, Strepsils and neat whisky!
Shooting started for the You Lose video as soon as I returned and we managed to wrap it up in one days filming. Filmed and edited by Daren Rodway (Darendino productions) and directed by Narin Oz, it was a truly great day. We’d been waiting for months for a sunny day that we were all available so it was so amazing to finally get it done. I saw the latest edit a few days ago and it’s coming along great, can’t wait to share it with you all.

I’ve been busy in the studio the last few months putting the finishing touches on the second album. It’s really sounding great. I know it’s taking it’s sweet ass time but it’s sometimes hard to find the time to get into the studio, both me and my producer Pepps have other commitments and projects on the go but the light is definitely visible at the end of the tunnel, I have a bottle of champagne waiting to be popped when it’s all over. It’s such a different sound to The Last Green Bottle, a real change in direction but I’m so proud of all we’ve achieved with it.

I did a warm up show for the tour in Petersfield last week, it was my first time in the town and it was a great experience, the audience were wonderful, I look forward to returning there on December for round 2!

Back in April whilst touring the states I recorded a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time after Time’ as a duet with Darling Waste. I’m excited to reveal that they’ve included it on their brand new EP which is out next week- watch this space.

Right, for now- ‘That’s all folks’! Just want to say a massive thank you for all your support, for buying the record, for coming out to the shows, it really means the world to me and I can’t wait to see you all again out and about on this tour.

Much love all round

P
Xxx